Speothos pacivorus is an extinct South American canid (Canidae: Cerdocyonina) from the Pleistocene of Lagoa Santa Karst, Central Brazil. This taxon is one of the hypercarnivore canids that vanished from the continent at the end of Pleistocene. Although all remains of Speothos pacivorus were collected in the 19th century by the Danish naturalist Peter W. Lund, few studies have committed to an in-depth analysis of the taxon and the known specimens. Here, we analyzed all biological remains of S. pacivorus hosted in the Peter Lund/Quaternary Collection at the Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, by listing and illustrating all its specimens known to date. We also conducted a reconstruction of the holotype, an almost complete cranium, based on a µCT scan, producing an undeformed and crack-free three-dimensional model. With this data available we aim to foster new research on this elusive species. 

Speothos pacivorus NHMD:211341 View specimen

M3#1475 Holotype of Speothos pacivorus Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.1475   state:in_press

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Turtles are one of the most impressive vertebrates. Much of the body is either hidden in a shell or can be drawn into it. Turtles impress with their individual longevity and their often peaceful disposition. Also, with their resilience, they have survived all extinction events since their emergence in the Late Triassic. Today's diversity of shapes is impressive and ranges from the large and high domed Galapagos turtles to the hamster-sized flat pancake turtles. The holotype of one of the oldest fossil turtles, Proganochelys quenstedtii, is housed in the paleontological collection in Tübingen/Germany. Since its discovery some years before 1873, P. quenstedtii has represented the 'prototype' of the turtle and has had an eventful scientific history. It was found in Neuenhaus (Häfner-Neuhausen in Schönbuch forest), Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and stems from Löwenstein-Formation (Weißer Keupersandstein), Late Triassic. The current catalogue number is GPIT-PV-30000. The specimen is listed in the historical inventory “Tübinger Petrefaktenverzeichnis 1841 bis 1896, [folio 326v.]“, as “[catalogue number: PV]16549, Schildkröte Weiser Keupersandstein Hafnerhausen” [turtle from White Keuper Sandstone]. Another, more recent synonym is “GPIT/RE/9396”. The same specimen was presented as uncatalogued by Gaffney (1990). Here we provide a surface scan of the steinkern for easier access of this famous specimen to the scientific community.
  

Proganochelys quenstedtii GPIT-PV-30000 View specimen

M3#967 This the surface model of the steinkern of the shell of Proganochelys quenstedtii. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.967   state:published

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